Thin-Client
The thin client approach
A thin client (or a lean client) is a network computer without a hard disk drive, which, in client/server applications, is designed to be especially small so that the bulk of the data processing occurs on the server. Usually, the embedded operating system (OS) in a thin client is stored in a "flash drive" or in a Disk on Module (DOM). The embedded OS in a thin client is normally setup so its configuration can only be changed by administrators. Thin client hardware is available from many leading suppliers such as Wyse, Neoware and HP
Thin client (computing) can be defined as a server-centric computing model in which the application software, data, and CPU power resides on a network server rather than on the client computer.
The main benefits for this approach are:-
- Low Cost/Maintenance - the end user just has a simple computer with minimal set of hardware inside which is almost entirely managed centrally.
- Easier to secure. Thin clients can be designed so that no application data resides on the client (it is entirely rendered), centralising malware protection and minimising the risks of physical data theft.
- Less Energy Consumption. Dedicated thin client hardware has much lower energy consumption than thick client PCs. This not only reduces energy costs but may mean that in some cases air-conditioning systems are not required or need not be upgraded which can be a significant cost saving and contribute to achieving energy saving targets.
- Less network bandwidth. Since terminal servers typically reside on the same high-speed network backbone as file servers, most network traffic is confined to the server room. In a thin client environment only mouse movements, keystrokes and screen updates are transmitted from/to the end user thus consuming low network bandwidth.
There is a wide range of thin client (software) solutions available for both windows and UNIX and Linux including
- Microsoft terminal services
- Citrix Presentation Server (formerly Citrix MetaFrame Server)
- Ericom PowerTerm WebConnect Enterprise
- PXES Universal Linux Thin Client
Another advantage of solutions is that it lets people connect to these applications remotely, from their homes, airport Internet kiosks, smart phones, and other devices outside of their corporate networks. From an end-user perspective, users can log in to their corporate network from, for example, home, see all of the applications they would see everyday at work, including Outlook email and any internal applications, and access them from the kiosk in a secure environment. To the user, the application would appear as if it was installed and running on their computer (seamless desktop integration), whereas in reality, the application is running on a remote server hosted in their corporate environment.